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en-USHow to Get Your Finances Back on Track After Losing Everythinghttp://www.wisebread.com/how-to-get-your-finances-back-on-track-after-losing-everything
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<p>Losing your job, your house, your car, or your bank account can shake your confidence and leave you feeling helpless. But the best thing you can do when you hit rock bottom is dust yourself off and put the pieces back together again. While bouncing back after financial loss may seem impossible, there are several strategies you can use to get your finances back on track.</p>
<h2>1. Assess the Situation</h2>
<p>Some financial setbacks occur because of situations beyond your control, like losing a job because your employer had to reduce expenses, or incurring massive medical debt after a serious illness. But even when you have limited control, you should assess the circumstances that led to your downfall and figure out what you did wrong, or what you could have done differently to avoid the experience.</p>
<p>Maybe the setback was caused by poor financial choices, such as buying more house than you could afford, which then led to losing the home. Or maybe shopping became your therapy, and rather than save, you blew your income on &quot;stuff&quot; and never built an emergency fund for the unexpected.</p>
<p>If you can narrow down what contributed to the mishap, you can come up with a plan to dig yourself out of the hole and avoid repeating the past.</p>
<h2>2. Change Your Attitude</h2>
<p>Attitude is everything in these types of situations. After losing everything, getting out of bed every morning can be a struggle. And depending on the gravity of the setback, a comeback can feel like an unrealistic dream. But to get your finances back on track, you have to change your attitude and believe there's light at the end of the tunnel.</p>
<p>If you make excuses or think you're destined to fail, this can become a self-fulfilling prophecy wherein you never reverse the situation.</p>
<h2>3. Adjust Your Budget</h2>
<p>It takes income to bounce back from a financial disaster. If you've lost everything, chances are you're working with minimum income. You have an uphill battle ahead of you. But if you prioritize spending, save more, and look for ways to generate additional income, you can begin the road to recovery. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/build-a-better-budget-in-5-minutes-flat?ref=seealso">Build a Budget in Five Minutes Flat</a>)</p>
<p>Take a look at your budget to make sure you're spending less than you're earning. You need to keep expenses as low as possible, which frees up cash for paying down debt and building an emergency cash reserve. Although there's nothing fun about losing a home or a car, you can turn this tragedy into something positive. You need a roof over your head and transportation, but rather than jump into another housing or car payment prematurely, see if you can rent a room from family or friends. This will probably be cheaper than getting your own place. And if you use public transportation, you'll save on auto insurance, personal property taxes, and gasoline.</p>
<p>You also can boost your income with a part-time job, or sell stuff to generate disposable income. The money earned might not be a lot at first, but it can jump-start your savings account and help pay off debt and past due accounts.</p>
<h2>4. Get a Financial Mentor</h2>
<p>Some people experience a financial downfall because they don't know the fundamentals of managing their personal finances. In this case, education is how you bounce back and make smarter decisions moving forward.</p>
<p>The good news is that you don't have to spend money on a personal finance course to learn the basics. There are plenty of resources at your fingertips including reputable financial blogs and websites that cover various aspects of personal finance from saving money to debt management. Working with a financial adviser is also helpful because these professionals can guide you through a financial hardship.</p>
<p>If you never learn the right and wrong ways to manage your money, you'll keep making the same mistakes over and over again.</p>
<h2>5. Set Realistic Goals</h2>
<p>Naturally, you want to rebound as quickly as possible and regain what you've lost, but you have to be realistic and patient. By setting unrealistic goals, you're ultimately setting yourself up for failure.</p>
<p>After a foreclosure, your plans might include purchasing another home after 12 months. But considering how you'll need to improve your credit score and save money for a down payment, your expectations could be unrealistic, and if you don't attain this goal, you could become discouraged and lose focus. If you take your time and establish a more realistic time frame for buying another home &mdash; perhaps two or three years &mdash; you're likely to achieve this goal.</p>
<h2>6. Don't Give Up</h2>
<p>No plan is perfect, so even with a solid strategy for bouncing back, you could hit a few roadblocks along the way. The worst thing you can do is give up. Stumbling blocks will happen, and it's not the number of setbacks that matter but rather the number of times you pick yourself up. If you can rebound from every setback, you'll eventually win and reverse the situation.</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/mikey-rox">Mikey Rox</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-get-your-finances-back-on-track-after-losing-everything">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-1">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Personal Financeadvicebudgetingdisasterinspirationlosing everythinglossmentorpositivityrebuildingrock bottomtragedyFri, 07 Oct 2016 10:30:12 +0000Mikey Rox1806464 at http://www.wisebread.comEverything You Need to Know About Buying Travel Insurancehttp://www.wisebread.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-buying-travel-insurance
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<p>Choosing the right travel insurance can be a difficult task. With so many policies out there and all with differing service and ease of claims, your head might start to spin. Do you like to scuba dive, sky dive, or high dive? You better make sure you're covered for that. Are you carrying expensive electronics? They should be insured if they're lost or stolen.</p>
<p>There's a lot more to choosing the right travel insurance than just finding out how high your hospital bills might be. Let's break down the basics so that you can make an informed decision about which travel insurance is right for you. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/the-dirt-on-travel-insurance?ref=seealso">The Dirt on Travel Insurance</a>)</p>
<h2>Travel Insurance Isn't Just Medical Coverage</h2>
<p>Before I get started with the five things you should consider before buying travel insurance, I should clarify that travel insurance can cover you for a lot more than just medical emergencies. Most people who are thinking of buying travel insurance are doing so because they're worried about a hospital visit.</p>
<p>But you can make claims for stolen goods, broken cameras, canceled flights, family emergencies, lost luggage, and so much more. A good travel insurance policy is basically a universal protection plan to ensure that you're covered for whatever the road throws at you.</p>
<h2>What Is the Coverage Limit?</h2>
<p>When looking at a travel insurance policy, one of the first things you should look for is the maximum coverage limit on the plan. If you're only covered for $5,000, there's not much point. Medical emergencies can cost tens of thousands of dollars, or even hundreds of thousands depending where you are and what happens to you.</p>
<p>A solid plan will cover you for at least $100,000. This limit can go all the way up to $1 million. A high coverage limit is extremely important when choosing travel insurance because if you are injured, fall ill, or need serious medical attention while on the road, you want to make sure that no matter how high the hospital bills are, you won't end up paying out of pocket.</p>
<p>The worst thing that can happen to you in a medical emergency is being stuck in a hospital because of a serious injury or illness and then coming out of it and realizing that you owe thousands of dollars. Make sure your plan has coverage of $100,000 or more.</p>
<h2>What Activities Are Covered?</h2>
<p>What kind of traveler are you? Will you be doing adventure activities like rock climbing, desert safaris, scuba diving, horseback riding, and mountaineering? You should always check your policy to ensure that you're covered for any activities you plan on partaking in.</p>
<p>You may expect that travel insurance will always cover you for whatever endeavors you get up to while on vacation, but that simply isn't true. Different plans cover different things and the more adventurous you are, the higher your insurance rates will likely be.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goatsontheroad.com/world-nomads-best-travel-insurance-backpackers/">World Nomads</a> has some of the best travel insurance for backpackers and long-term travelers. They allow you to start your policy while you're already on the road, they make it easy to make claims, and you can keep your policy going year after year.</p>
<p>The best part is that they cover you for a huge variety of wacky travel activities. Just look at their list of coverage:</p>
<p><img src="http://wisebread.killeracesmedia.netdna-cdn.com/files/fruganomics/u5171/Screen%20Shot%202016-06-24%20at%205.02.47%20PM.png" width="605" height="581" alt="" /></p>
<h2>What Gear Is Covered?</h2>
<p>One of the best parts of a good travel insurance policy is peace of mind, knowing that your electronics and travel gear are covered if lost or stolen. A good travel insurance policy will reimburse you if anything happens to your valuables.</p>
<p>The issue with extra coverage on electronics is that most companies have a pretty tight limit on what they will reimburse you for. Generally $500 is the maximum payout for any lost or stolen electronics. Given that the average laptop costs $1,000 these days, and a camera can be even more than that, $500 doesn't go very far.</p>
<p>If you're traveling with a lot of gear, you may want to consider buying extra insurance through a specified electronics insurance plan. Clements Insurance offers special coverage for your electronics. They'll allow you to make claims on unscheduled receipts up to $10,000, meaning that you don't have to pre-submit your receipts and the cost of your laptop and camera will probably be covered.</p>
<h2>Does the Policy Include Emergency Evacuation?</h2>
<p>Emergency evacuation and care is an extremely important part of any travel insurance policy. You want to make 100% sure that if you're in a life-threatening situation, you will be covered for medevac, ambulance, and emergency air lift.</p>
<p>The cheapest emergency air ambulance is probably going to cost you $10,000 or more, with <a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/travel/travel-advice/travel-health/the-40000-bali-trip-you-dont-want-to-take/news-story/6f7543e9182911b8a45aa53bf852fd39">international medevacs costing upward of $40,000</a>. That's a purchase you don't want to add to your travel budget.</p>
<p>If you're canyoneering in Utah and you fall and break your leg, your policy should cover your evacuation to the hospital. If you're in Thailand when a tsunami hits and you need to be evacuated to a safe place, your plan should cover that as well. Any good plan should cover a medical evacuation expense of up to $300,000 USD.</p>
<p>There are also times when an evacuation means that you need to be flown from a hospital to your home country. Standard emergency evacuation usually includes this provision, but you should always check with your insurance provider to make sure. Believe me, you don't want to pay for a medevac from Indonesia to the U.S.</p>
<h2>How Easy Is It to Make a Claim?</h2>
<p>Just because you have travel insurance, doesn't mean that you can easily call them up at a moment's notice, tell them what happened, and they'll send you a check.</p>
<p>The quality of service varies greatly from provider to provider and some make it very difficult and frustrating to make claims. The best companies will allow you to make a claim online and they may have a list of hospitals and clinics that they work with directly so they can pay the bills without you having to pay out of pocket.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that travel insurance companies are just that &mdash; companies. They're in the game to make money, so they're not waiting next to the phone, ready to hand out checks to every person who calls in. Even the best travel insurance companies can take a long time to reimburse you.</p>
<p>To try to speed up the inevitably slow process, make sure you have all your receipts, necessary forms, and proper documentation when making the claim, and keep it organized until you have been fully reimbursed.</p>
<h2>A Few Other Things to Consider</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Multiple Countries</strong>: Some policies only cover you for pre-specified destinations, while others won't cover you at all for countries with government travel advisories.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>24-Hour Emergency Service</strong>: If you're having a medical emergency, you want to make sure that your insurance provider will be there to help you, no matter what time of day or night you call in.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Family Emergencies</strong>: If you're on a long trip and something happens to a loved one back home, your travel insurance policy should cover your flight home to be with that person.<br />
&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Flight Cancellation Costs</strong>: If you have to pay for a hotel, another flight or some other kind of transportation booking because your airline canceled your flight last minute, your travel insurance should cover the costs.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Do You Need Travel Insurance?</h2>
<p>Ask anyone who has been in a medical emergency overseas without coverage. They'll say <em>yes</em>. Ask any traveler who had medical insurance and thanked their lucky stars that they were covered. They'll say <em>yes</em>. A good travel insurance policy will likely only cost you a few dollars a day, but it could potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars if something does end up happening to you or your possessions.</p>
<p>Insurance is the one thing that every traveler should buy before going on a trip, but it's something that you hope you never have to use. Do your research. Find a travel insurance provider that is right for you and make sure your policy covers everything you need.</p>
<p><em>Have you ever purchased travel insurance? Did you need it?</em></p>
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<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/goats-on-the-road">Goats on the Road</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-buying-travel-insurance">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-2">
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</div> </div><br/></br>InsuranceTraveldisasteremergencieslost possessionsmedevacmedicalreimbursementtraveler's insuranceThu, 14 Jul 2016 09:00:12 +0000Goats on the Road1738704 at http://www.wisebread.comThe 6 Stages of Dealing With Financial Disasterhttp://www.wisebread.com/the-6-stages-of-dealing-with-financial-disaster
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<p>Sometimes, no matter how frugal and prudent we are, financial disaster hits and turns our lives upside down. Maybe it's an unexpected health issue that we're not insured for, a whopping and unavoidable housing expense, or a job loss that leads to a long stretch of unemployment. It happens &mdash; and if it hasn't happened to you, you probably know someone who's been down that rocky road. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/are-your-finances-fragile?ref=seealso">Are Your Finances Fragile?</a>)</p>
<p>Whatever the cause, it seems people have similar reactions to financial disaster and similar phases of recovery. Here are six common stages we go through as we grieve our loss and work to rebuild our financial lives.</p>
<h2>1. Shock and Denial</h2>
<p>Understandably, dramatic changes in our financial fortunes can initially inspire a sense of shock, disbelief, and denial. Whatever path brought us up to and over the edge of our financial cliff may have been paved with the best intentions and highest optimism &mdash; buying a new house, investing in a business, or pursuing an advanced degree. Part of the recovery process is waking up to the fact that the dream is over &mdash; at least for now &mdash; and who wants such a rude awakening? Shock and denial insulate us from a painful reality and forestall the inevitable packing-up of our dream.</p>
<h2>2. Depression</h2>
<p>Once the shock wears off and constant denial simply can't be maintained, depression fills the void. Depression prepares us for acceptance and is both a part of admitting defeat and its logical result. Depression is the clearest mourning phase in financial upheaval &mdash; it's the point at which we acknowledge a very real loss, grieve the plans we made, and emotionally and financially hibernate.</p>
<h2>3. Acceptance</h2>
<p>Acceptance is the first stage of active recovery. The shock is passed, the denial is over, and depression is giving way to reality (however wince-worthy it may be). At this point, it's helpful to remind ourselves of the things we still have &mdash; marketable skills, the support of family and friends, zero debt, or a car that's modest but dependable and paid for. However deep you have to dig to find the positives, find them and use them to fuel your momentum.</p>
<h2>4. Analysis and Learning</h2>
<p>In marketing, we call this the post-mortem stage. It begins by asking and then honestly answering a few very simple questions.</p>
<h3>What (Really) Happened?</h3>
<p>Getting a clear answer is trickier than it sounds. Often, we struggle to understand the nature of the problem. What led to the foreclosure &mdash; was it an unmanageable interest rate? An ill-advised refi? Out-of-control spending? All of the above?</p>
<h3>How Did This Happen?</h3>
<p>Digging a bit deeper, asking &quot;how&quot; helps us link behavior to circumstances and outcomes. The answer is the first step toward making the changes necessary to minimize the chance of future trouble.</p>
<h3>What Could I Have Done Differently?</h3>
<p>Once we understand what happened and how it happened, we can begin to reflect on options that might have helped us dodge the disaster, or do so in the future.</p>
<h3>What Have I Learned for Next Time?</h3>
<p>This question links everything together. And while the answer isn't always crystal clear, asking it is important. The lessons we learn from financial upheaval are some of the most valuable things we're left with. Making them an honest part of our story helps turn them into foundations of future success.</p>
<h2>5. Rebuilding</h2>
<p>This is go time. The rebuilding stage gives traction to the analysis and learning we've done. Here, we've fully surrendered the Plan A and are focused on creating a just-as-wonderful (although perhaps more modest) Plan B. New insight and smarter approaches take shape (complete with redundancies and safeguards) as we plot the next <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/6-steps-to-achieving-all-your-goals">steps to achieve our goals</a>.</p>
<h2>6. Fortification</h2>
<p>This stage can be summed up perfectly in a famous quote by Scarlett O'Hara in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416548947/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1416548947&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=wisbre03-20&amp;linkId=HQA67X2JCMUSPMID">Gone With the Wind</a>: &quot;As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again.&quot; Fortification is &quot;recovery plus&quot; &mdash; an attempt to make any sort of hiccup or failure extremely unlikely by having extra savings, additional resources, or deeper knowledge. For example, re-entering the real estate market might happen only after a person is sure of securing a better interest rate, borrowing far less than she's qualified for, having a healthy emergency fund, and securing a space large enough to take in a rent-paying roommate. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/a-step-by-step-guide-to-creating-your-emergency-fund?ref=seealso">A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Emergency Fund</a>)</p>
<p>A wise and dear friend of mine used to say, &quot;Few things in life are irreversible&quot; and those words are especially important to remember if you're facing or recovering from financial disaster. As remote as the idea may seem in the thick of things, we live in a world that still gives second chances; don't ever feel like you can't claim your own. Again, in the immortal words of Scarlett O'Hara, &quot;After all&hellip;tomorrow is another day.&quot;</p>
<p><em>Have you weathered a financial disaster? What were the most difficult stages as you coped and recovered?</em></p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/kentin-waits">Kentin Waits</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/the-6-stages-of-dealing-with-financial-disaster">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-1">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Personal FinanceGeneral Tipsdisasterfinancial disasterinsurancerecoveryTue, 05 Aug 2014 13:00:03 +0000Kentin Waits1174401 at http://www.wisebread.com5 Emergency Situations You Must Prepare For (and 5 You Can Ignore)http://www.wisebread.com/5-emergency-situations-you-must-prepare-for-and-5-you-can-ignore
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<p>&quot;Prepping&quot; is a term that defines the process of getting ready for a catastrophic event. While the word used to have a negative connotation, reserved for folks who take preparation to an extreme, many more everyday people today are using a common sense approach to mitigate damages from a variety of tragic events. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/preparing-financially-for-a-natural-disaster?ref=seealso">How to Prepare Financially for a Natural Disaster</a>)</p>
<p>The key to keeping your preparations realistic is to weigh the possibility of a particular event actually happening against the amount of work needed to prepare for it. Some events may almost certainly never arrive, while others could happen more than a few times during a person&#39;s life. Many are ridiculously expensive to thwart, while others require just a few dollars a week in extra supplies.</p>
<h2>Realistic Preparation</h2>
<p>Given the likelihood of a disaster happening, and the possibility of being ready for it, let&#39;s look first at the five disasters you should prepare for.</p>
<h2>1. Catastrophic Weather Events</h2>
<p>Nebraska and much of the rest of the Midwest and Eastern U.S. recently experienced what scientists have called a &quot;vortex&quot; of cold weather. Temps reached below -50 degrees F due to wind-chill, and this caused a number of issues beyond your typical cold-weather inconveniences. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/10-safest-cities-in-america-from-natural-disasters?ref=seealso">Safest Cities in America From Natural Disasters</a>)</p>
<p>Most Nebraskans, however, weren&#39;t caught unprepared for such an event; we are, after all, accustomed to very cold weather. The same can be said for tornadoes, which happen annually, blizzards, and drought. Each area of the country has its own pattern of weather-related extremes, but since their possibility is no surprise (only their timing and severity), you should be taking appropriate steps throughout the year to have an adequate supply of food, water, and essentials on hand for any disruptions weather may cause.</p>
<p>What do we consider &quot;adequate&quot;? While it may vary according to your location, size of family, and stage in life, this basic list from <a href="http://www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit">Ready.gov</a> gives a good basic starting point. A bare minimum of what you would need for your basic comfort and biological needs for 72 hours is a great place to start. This will include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Food (and items to open, prepare, and serve it)</li>
<li>Water (one gallon per person per day for drinking plus what&#39;s needed for food prep, cleaning, toileting, and washing)</li>
<li>Medicines (both prescription and basic OTCs) and first aid supplies</li>
<li>Sanitary supplies (diapers, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, wet wipes)</li>
<li>Communication devices (cell phones and solar or handcrank chargers)</li>
<li>Radio with weather alerts (plus batteries or a means to charge them)</li>
<li>Flashlight, LED lantern, or other lighting</li>
<li>Basic tools (hammer, wrench, etc)</li>
<li>Entertainment (cards, chargers for iPads, games, or books)</li>
</ul>
<p>Many pre-made kits will contain other &quot;must-haves,&quot; but only you can assess if these items are truly necessary. Putting together your own kit ensures you have only those items that are appropriate for your particular needs. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/6-items-you-might-have-forgot-in-your-emergency-kit?ref=seealso">6 Items to Add to Your Emergency Kit</a>)</p>
<h2>2. Loss of Power</h2>
<p>Most people take small steps to guard against the complications of having a power outage, and expect that they could happen during weather events. But what about those power outages that take everyone by surprise? Disruptions lasting a few minutes to a few days can happen for a variety of reasons, including freak accidents and scheduled repairs. Waiting until you&#39;re in the dark is too late to come to terms with the chance of a blackout. Stock what you need to go without power for 2&ndash;3 days, at a minimum. It likely will happen at least once every two years.</p>
<p>In addition to all the items needed in the basic preparation list above, you&#39;ll need alternative ways to heat food and charge electronics. Camp stoves can be handy for this purpose, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DD6B9IK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00DD6B9IK&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=wisbre03-20">solar chargers</a> for a cell phone or radio can be purchased for as little as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00449U3K0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00449U3K0&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=wisbre03-20">$20 online</a>. If you have access to a gasoline generator, operating one safely may be a blessing to your home and your neighbors! (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/20-things-to-have-on-hand-for-power-outages?ref=seealso">20 Things to Have in a Power Outage</a>)</p>
<h2>3. Loss of Income</h2>
<p>Whether you lose your job, or you take a drastic cut in pay or hours, having less to live on is a reality for most everyone at least once in a career. Most established families have (or should have!) some kind of emergency fund to live on, typically three months income, but having extra essentials on hand may prove to be more useful. (Consider how affordable it may be to stock up on extra non-perishables when they are on sale versus trying to come up with an extra $100 in grocery money down the road during a layoff!) Take into consideration expenses that are slightly &quot;irregular&quot; when you save, as well. Having your annual property taxes due after losing a job can be devastating to an unprepared household. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/a-step-by-step-guide-to-creating-your-emergency-fund?ref=seealso">How to Create Your Emergency Fund</a>)</p>
<h2>4. Sickness</h2>
<p>Whether it&#39;s a ruptured appendix or a terminal case of cancer, illness can rock the worlds of both the patient and their loved ones. In addition to added medical bills, there can be loss of income, an increase in time spent traveling for treatments, or even a major move in school or home location. Being prepared for the worst through illness can be as simple as securing extra coverage on a life insurance plan or getting your advance directive in order before you fall ill. Take time to consider the possibilities of how illness can change things, then work methodically to address each obstacle one by one &mdash; before it happens. (See also: <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/what-to-do-if-youre-hit-with-a-huge-medical-bill?ref=seealso">What to Do If You Get a Huge Medical Bill</a>)</p>
<h2>5. Fire or Flood (not Weather-Related)</h2>
<p>Our family has a tendency to breathe deeply once tornado season is over. The thought of having our home (and all the contents) completely destroyed is a terrifying one, and tornadoes make it a very real possibility. But what about the other ways someone could lose their house? Fires and floods are common, as well, and can happen at any time of year and in any location in the U.S. or around the world. If you don&#39;t already have adequate insurance coverage on your abode and possessions, the time to do that is now. (But be aware; flood coverage is not automatic on home policies. Check your policy language and ensure that you have a separate plan in place.) You&#39;ll also want to take inventory of all of your belongings so that they can be replaced when it comes time for that claim.</p>
<h2>Disasters You Probably Don&#39;t Have to Prep For</h2>
<p>So what about those situations that aren&#39;t useful to prepare for? While there is no harm is doing some of the legwork for the following disasters (especially those steps that are identical to preparing for other disasters), spending a disproportionate amount of time and money preparing for these events may not be worth the trouble.</p>
<ul>
<li>Nuclear fallout</li>
<li>Electromagnetic pulse (EMP)</li>
<li>Collapse of the economy</li>
<li>Worldwide pandemic or plague</li>
<li>Zombie Apocalypse (yes, there are those who believe)</li>
</ul>
<p>While the possibility of these five are very real (for some of us, anyway), preparing for each one, specifically, can be costly and may not do much to help you escape the outcome. By starting small, you can be in compliance with my favorite prepping rule: prepare for what makes sense. As times change, the threats will also, but the necessities needed to survive likely will not.</p>
<p>(For more information on following common sense prepping rules, I highly recommend &quot;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616083875/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1616083875&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=wisbre03-20">The Disaster Preparedness Handbook: A Guide for Families</a>&quot; by Dr. Arthur T. Bradley.)</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/linsey-knerl">Linsey Knerl</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/5-emergency-situations-you-must-prepare-for-and-5-you-can-ignore">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-1">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Life Hacksdisasterdisaster suppliesemergencyemergency suppliespreparednessWed, 22 Jan 2014 11:36:08 +0000Linsey Knerl1112799 at http://www.wisebread.comThe 5 Best Generatorshttp://www.wisebread.com/the-5-best-generators
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<p>Electricity powers most, if not all, of our important daily necessities and has become an essential resource sustaining our lifestyles, which is why when the power goes out, it can be quite distressing. Fortunately, a solution can be found in the form of an electric generator, which can help keep the power flowing in the event of a power blackout. Wise Bread is here to help you find the best generator to keep your power going with our top 5 list.</p>
<h2>What Is a Generator?</h2>
<p>A generator is a gas-powered machine that converts mechanical energy into electric energy, which can then be used to generate power in areas or in situations where no power is readily available. There are three main types of generators: stationary, portable, and inverter generators. Depending on the size of their wattage output, a generator can power everything from home appliances to entire houses for hours or days at a time. Inverter generators specifically provide a stable electrical current that's safer for powering delicate electronics, such as TVs and computers. Before buying a generator, it's important to consider what you intend to power with the machine to ensure that you get the most appropriate model for your needs.</p>
<h2>Best 5 Generators</h2>
<h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q0KJII/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B004Q0KJII&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20"><img alt="" src="http://static1.killeraces.com/files/fruganomics/u784/gen-kohler.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 227px; float: right;" /></a>Kohler 14RESAL</h3>
<p>A top pick from Consumer Reports, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q0KJII/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B004Q0KJII&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20">Kohler 14RESAL</a> is a powerful stationary generator with myriad reliable features that can power you through an extended blackout whenever it happens.</p>
<p>Whether you're home or not, the 14RESAL automatically starts up immediately when the power goes out, thanks to its automatic transfer switch. From there, it can quietly generate a whopping 12,000 watts of smooth electrical power using natural gas, or 14,000 watts using propane, that can power everything in your home for virtually as long as you need it to. Its air-cooling design includes a useful low-oil shutoff feature with a warning light that helps keep the generator from overheating. The 14RESAL also comes in a corrosion-proof enclosure that effectively protects the generator from the natural elements.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q0KJII/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B004Q0KJII&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20">Currently $3,615.00 on Amazon.</a></em></p>
<h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C2LV4H8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00C2LV4H8&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20"><img alt="" src="http://static1.killeraces.com/files/fruganomics/u784/gen-generac6237.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 229px; float: right;" /></a>Generac 6237</h3>
<p>Don't let the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C2LV4H8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00C2LV4H8&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20">Generac 6237</a>'s smaller size fool you. This stationary generator is another recommended choice from Consumer Reports that is just as capable and reliable at powering your entire home in the case of a blackout and comes at a much more affordable price.</p>
<p>A transfer switch and electric start mechanism allows this generator to automatically turn on when a power blackout occurs. The 6237 can generate a hearty 7,000 watts of clean electrical power on natural gas and 1,000 more watts on propane, and it can keep the power going for days. The 6237 comes pre-wired and connects to your home's existing natural gas or propane supply to automatically fuel itself, thus making the generator incredibly hassle-free and easy to operate. An automatic low-oil shutoff comes standard on this model as well for added safety.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C2LV4H8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00C2LV4H8&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20">Currently $2,093.80 on Amazon.</a></em></p>
<h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00372TPCC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00372TPCC&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20"><img alt="" src="http://static1.killeraces.com/files/fruganomics/u784/gen-briggs.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 300px; float: right;" /></a>Briggs &amp; Stratton 30470</h3>
<p>Both a Consumer Reports and Consumer Search top pick, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00372TPCC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00372TPCC&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20">Briggs &amp; Stratton 30470</a> is heavy-duty portable generator that can produce up to 7,000 watts, which many users say can easily power an entire house and is especially effective at powering well and sewage pumps too.</p>
<p>This generator also comes with automatic voltage regulation, which is a nice feature that allows it to provide surge-free power to smaller electronics. Other notable features on the 30470 include an electric start mechanism that effortlessly powers on the generator and a very helpful fuel gauge and hour meter. Users have also said that this hefty generator is quite easy to move around despite its slightly bulky design.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00372TPCC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00372TPCC&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20">Currently $879.00 on Amazon.</a></em></p>
<h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BXE9S0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B005BXE9S0&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20"><img alt="" src="http://static1.killeraces.com/files/fruganomics/u784/gen-generaclp.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 300px; float: right;" /></a>Generac LP3250</h3>
<p>Another Consumer Search top pick, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BXE9S0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B005BXE9S0&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20">Generac LP3250</a> portable generator is a superb basic generator option that's been praised for its convenient features and impressive energy output.</p>
<p>The LP3250 is fueled by liquid propane, which is more accessible and environmentally friendly than gasoline. A handy fuel tank holder is also integrated into its lightweight design, allowing you to easily transport the generator and its fuel supply as a single unit. Its 3,250-watt power supply generates enough electricity to keep several home appliances running simultaneously and can provide over 9 hours of power on just half of its fuel tank. Many users also appreciate the LP3250's surprisingly quiet performance as well as its automatic shutdown feature that triggers at low oil levels.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BXE9S0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B005BXE9S0&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20">Currently $609.00 on Amazon.</a></em></p>
<h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RWK9N2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B002RWK9N2&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20"><img alt="" src="http://static1.killeraces.com/files/fruganomics/u784/gen-yamaha.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 300px; float: right;" /></a>Yamaha EF2000iS</h3>
<p>With a 4&frac12; star average rating from over 200 customer reviews on Amazon, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RWK9N2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B002RWK9N2&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20">Yamaha EF2000iS</a> is a great choice for an inverter generator that has many users impressed by its quality performance.</p>
<p>With a continuous surge rating of 1,600 watts, the quite compact EF2000iS can adequately power basic appliances and expensive electronics, but it is possible to daisy-chain two EF2000iS units together to produce more power if desired. This inverter generator is also quite the fuel workhorse, one that's capable of providing 7-10 hours of power using just a quarter of its 1 gallon gas tank, all while never sounding louder than the volume of a normal conversation. While it doesn't come with an electric start mechanism, users say that one pull of the ripcord is all it takes to get this machine up and running.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RWK9N2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B002RWK9N2&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=bguidelink-20">Currently $989.10 on Amazon.</a></em></p>
<p>And those are our recommendations for the best generators. As always, be sure to check out the <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/buying-calendar">Wise Bread Shopping Calendar</a> to learn when and how to buy just about anything!</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/william-tran">William Tran</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/the-5-best-generators">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-2">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Buying Guidesdisasteremergencygeneratorspower blackoutpreparednessproduct reviewsWed, 22 Jan 2014 10:24:49 +0000William Tran1113808 at http://www.wisebread.comAsk the Readers: Are You Prepared for a Natural Disaster?http://www.wisebread.com/ask-the-readers-are-you-prepared-for-a-natural-disaster
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<p><em>Editor's Note: Congratulations to </em><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ask-the-readers-are-you-prepared-for-a-natural-disaster#comment-505683"><em>Kristin Haffey</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ask-the-readers-are-you-prepared-for-a-natural-disaster#comment-506188"><em>Jennifer</em></a><em>, and </em><a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ask-the-readers-are-you-prepared-for-a-natural-disaster#comment-505676"><em>Lisa @ Cents To Save</em></a><em> for winning this week's contest!</em></p>
<p>With the recent earthquake and hurricane on the east coast, disaster preparedness is a topic on the minds of many people. Many people have a plan in place to follow should disaster strike. However, some people have no plan to follow if they are faced with a natural disaster.</p>
<p><strong>Are you prepared for a natural disaster? &nbsp;</strong>Do you have an emergency fund? What about an evacuation plan? Do you know what your insurance covers? If you aren't prepared for a natural disaster yet, are you thinking about getting prepared?</p>
<p>Tell us if are prepared for a natural disaster and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!</p>
<h2>Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards</h2>
<p>We're doing three giveaways &mdash; one for random comments, one for random Facebook &quot;Likes&quot;, and another one for random tweets.</p>
<h3>Mandatory Entry:&nbsp;</h3>
<ul>
<li>Post your answer in the comments below&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h3>For extra entries (1 per action):</h3>
<ul>
<li>Go to our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wise-Bread/26830741467?ref=ts">Facebook page</a>, &quot;Like&quot; us, and leave a comment telling us you did, or</li>
<li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Tweet</a> your answer. You have to be a follower of our <a href="http://twitter.com/wisebread">@wisebread account</a>. Include both &quot;@wisebread&quot; and &quot;#WBAsk&quot; in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.</strong></p>
<h4>Giveaway Rules:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Contest ends Monday, September 5th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after September 5th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.</li>
<li>You can enter all three drawings &mdash; once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.</li>
<li>This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.</li>
<li>You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.</li>
</ul>
<p>Note: Due to recent changes in Facebook's promotions guidelines, we have restructured the entry format of our giveaways.</p>
<p><strong>Good Luck!</strong></p>
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Tell us if are prepared for a natural disaster and we&#039;ll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card! </div>
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<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ashley-jacobs">Ashley Jacobs</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/ask-the-readers-are-you-prepared-for-a-natural-disaster">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-1">
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</div> </div><br/></br>GiveawaysAsk the Readersdisasterearthquakehurricanenatural disasterTue, 30 Aug 2011 10:36:11 +0000Ashley Jacobs680812 at http://www.wisebread.com3 Post-Disaster Fundraising Optionshttp://www.wisebread.com/small-business/3-post-disaster-fundraising-options
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<p>The recent tornadoes in the Midwest and the devastation they caused bring home the need for businesses to have disaster plans. Unfortunately, many don&rsquo;t and scramble to recover after suffering damage or destruction to their premises. The American Red Cross says that 40 percent of small businesses never reopen following such severe loss. However, there are ways to get back to square one &mdash; as long as you have the cash to support your efforts. Here are three ways to find the cash you need to rebuild.</p>
<h3>Make Insurance Claims</h3>
<p>If you have coverage for your business property, contact your insurance agent or the insurance company immediately so you can start the claims process. Most companies have claims hotlines to speed the claims process.</p>
<p>Once the basic information has been submitted, expect to be contacted by an insurance adjuster. This is a person sent by the insurance company to assess your damage and decide on the amount of your recovery under the policy.</p>
<p>Don&rsquo;t necessarily accept the offer from the insurer. Do your own legwork to boost your recovery. For example, obtain several estimates for repairs of your property. These can be submitted to your insurance company and likely will be factored into the amount that the company will pay you.</p>
<p>You may need to bring in other experts:</p>
<ul>
<li>If you think the insurance company is trying to underpay you for your loss, don&rsquo;t hesitate to contact an attorney to help you obtain a fairer settlement;</li>
<li>If you have business interruption insurance, consider engaging a forensic accountant who can help you show the insurance company what you expect losses to be and what should be paid under the policy;</li>
<li>If you own your premises and there has been substantial damage, you may need a structural engineer to assess whether it&rsquo;s safe to rebuild or necessary to demolish what&rsquo;s left and start over; this can affect the amount of your recovery.</li>
</ul>
<p>For more information about small business insurance and links to state insurance departments, go to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.insureuonline.org/smallbusiness/">InsureU for Small Business</a>.</p>
<h3>Apply for an SBA Disaster Loan</h3>
<p>While the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) usually doesn&rsquo;t make loans directly to small businesses, there is an exception in the case of disasters. There are two loan programs to help, and together can provide funding of up to $2 million:</p>
<ul>
<li><b><i>Business physical disaster loans</i></b>. These loans, which have repayment terms up to 30 years, help replace damaged property or restore it to pre-disaster condition. Proceeds can be used for real property, machinery and equipment, and inventory. The interest rate won&rsquo;t be more than 4% if the business does not have credit available elsewhere (8% if credit is available elsewhere); the SBA determines whether the applicant has credit available elsewhere.</li>
<li><b><i>Economic injury disaster loans</i></b>. Regardless of any physical damage, if a business has an economic injury, it can obtain an SBA loan for working capital. Substantial economic injury means the inability of a business to meet its obligations as they mature and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses. The interest rate is capped at 4% and the repayment terms are fixed according to a business&rsquo; ability to make payments (but no longer than 30 years).</li>
</ul>
<p>Check the SBA&rsquo;s <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/1/2462">Office of Disaster Assistance</a> for a listing of current disaster declarations and links to disaster loans.</p>
<p>Note: Farmers may be eligible for special assistance through various <a target="_blank" href="http://www.disasterassistance.gov/federal-agency/2">programs from the Department of Agriculture</a>.</p>
<h3>File for a Tax Refund</h3>
<p>If you suffer damages that are not covered by insurance, you can deduct the property loss on your tax return. Unlike personal casualty losses, there is no limit on the amount you can write off. For uninsured losses in an area declared by FEMA to be eligible for federal disaster relief, you have the choice of deducting it on the return for the year of the disaster or the prior year. By choosing the prior year, you may be able to obtain a cash tax refund now.</p>
<p><b><i>Special tax rule for inventory. </i></b>If your inventory loss is from a disaster in an area designated by FEMA for assistance, you can opt to deduct the loss on your return or amended return for the immediately preceding year. But be sure to decrease your opening inventory for the year of the loss so that the loss will not be reported again in inventories.</p>
<p>FEMA posts a list of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema">designated disaster areas</a>. Rules on deducting disaster losses can be found in IRS Publication 547, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p547.pdf">Casualties, Disasters and Theft Losses</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Final Word</strong></p>
<p>An ounce of prevention goes a long way in disaster planning relief. Review your insurance coverage before anything happens. At the least, make sure you have adequate data backup to protect your important business files and financial information.</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/barbara-weltman">Barbara Weltman</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/small-business/3-post-disaster-fundraising-options">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-1">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Small Business Resource Centerdisasterdisaster fundraisingdisaster managementdisaster planningnatural disastersmall businessSun, 05 Jun 2011 18:02:27 +0000Barbara Weltman559430 at http://www.wisebread.comRebuilding After A Disaster: Create A Home Inventory Nowhttp://www.wisebread.com/rebuilding-after-a-disaster-create-a-home-inventory-now
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<p>It seems like, every other week, there is some natural disaster threatening people’s homes. Worrying about that sort of thing has lead me to be a little more prepared than I might be otherwise. I’ve got an emergency plan, I’ve backed up my hard drive, and my cats’ carrier is easily accessible. Now, I’m starting to focus on what might happen after a disaster. The key to starting over again seems to be knowing what you might need to replace. Insurers will insist on such a list, for instance. So, I’ve been developing my own home inventory. </p>
<h2>Break Out the Camera</h2>
<p>The fastest way to document the stuff in your house or apartment is to grab your digital camera and start shooting. Getting a shot of any major items in your home is a good way to prove that you really own the item in question, and if you have jewelry or family heirlooms that you have insured, a simple description probably won’t suffice. Insurers actually recommend that you use photographs in such cases.</p>
<h2>Name, Rank and Serial Number</h2>
<p>When it comes to replacing big electronics (think appliances and entertainment systems), the easiest way to know exactly what you want is to use the model name of the piece of equipment, along with a serial number. Just pop open a spreadsheet in Excel or the software of your choice and make a list of the big items in your home. On my list, I’ve got our home computers, the television and its associated gadgets. We’re in an apartment, so I’m not worried about the kitchen appliances — those are the landlord’s responsibility.</p>
<h2>Protecting Your Inventory</h2>
<p>I know that in an emergency, I may not have time to go through my filing cabinet looking for a copy of my home inventory. I do have hard copy in my files, but I’m not relying on it. I just emailed myself a copy. Now, I know you probably want to remind me that I may not have email access right after a natural disaster. Instead, I’m relying on the fact that my Gmail account is accessible from anywhere. My mom, half a continent away, should be able to print out my list, if necessary. I’m also making plans for leaving print copies in a couple of places, like the glove box of my car. There’s also the option of saving your inventory on a thumb drive — which is especially useful if you have many photos in your inventory. My only concern is that those little drives are so easy to lose. </p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/thursday-bram">Thursday Bram</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/rebuilding-after-a-disaster-create-a-home-inventory-now">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-2">
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</div> </div><br/></br>HomeInsuranceReal Estate and HousingdisasterinventoryTue, 18 Mar 2008 14:13:52 +0000Thursday Bram1928 at http://www.wisebread.comDo You Need a Disaster Survival Kit?http://www.wisebread.com/do-you-need-a-disaster-survival-kit
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<p>I've always thought of disaster preparedness as something for the highly paranoid or mildly insane. But something about today's news (coverage of a Mid East weapons bazaar, <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2159935/nav/tap1/">heat beaming guns</a>, Iran not backing down from its nuclear program, and my general feeling about our federal government's competency in the face of major disasters) has made me a little spooked and slightly morbid. If nothing else, it has led me to believe that &quot;Better safe than sorry&quot; is a mantra that I should be chanting all day.</p>
<p>Let's just say that, should some disaster befall my fair city in the next 24 hours, I would probably not be ready to handle my own survival in the face of such an occurrence. But all of that is about to change, because tonight is my Disaster Preparedness Night, in which I assemble my very own survival kit, that will hopefully see me through any major emergency.</p>
<p>A while back, Slate offered a series of articles on how to survive disasters. The one on <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2148772/entry/2148774/">nuclear disaster</a> was actually almost comforting, but some of the others, like the one about avian flu, were more disturbing, and didn't really go much beyond &quot;See your doctor, get a flu shot, we are ALL GOING TO DIE AAAAAAAUUUGH!&quot; However, it never hurts (although it might frighten) to read about what we need to do to be safe and sound should we ever find ourselves facing something like Hurricane Katrina.</p>
<h2>Earthquakes</h2>
<p>Earthquakes, like all disasters, require preparedness and resilience. In terms of preventing disaster, there's not much you can do beyond getting a fair warning. David Shenk (the author of the Slate.com series) offers the possibility of installing an <a href="http://www.quakealarm.com/">Earthquake alarm</a>. It will apparently only give you a few seconds warning (and false alarms might be annoying), but it's better than nothing.</p>
<h3>Nuclear Disaster/Dirty Bombs</h3>
<p>From the Slate.com article:</p>
<blockquote><p>&quot;This would <strong>not</strong> be the end of the world,&quot; nuclear expert Charles Ferguson emphasized to me as we talked through the sequence of post-atomic events. &quot;We can deal with this kind of horrific attack, and a little preparation can go a long way to increasing your chances of survival.&quot; It's a shocking, unnerving reality that one can rationally prepare for a nuclear blast. But all it really takes is a trip to the grocery store, a few clicks on the Internet, and short conversations with your boss and your wife.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In terms of getting a fair warning, Shenk recommends the pricey <a href="http://www.nukepills.com/radiation-detector.htm#5">keychain radiation detector</a>, whose makers claim can warn you about radioactive isotopes before you are exposed to dangerous levels. In terms of surviving the disaster itself, it turns out that if you aren't incinerated straight away, your chances are pretty good as long as you can make it down to your basement and hole up for a few days until the radiation settles.</p>
<h2>General Readiness</h2>
<p>Anyway, a common theme to be found in most articles of this nature are: be ready. Have supplies. Stay calm. Make sure that rescuers can find you (hang something outside that indicates that you are present inside, assuming that you ARE inside).</p>
<p>I've looked around the web in search of some <a href="http://www.moreprepared.com/backpack-emergency-survival-p-274.html">good survival kits</a>, and there are some <a href="http://www.survivalsuppliers.com/products/earthquake_products/earthquake_kits.html">reasonably-priced</a> ones to be found, but honestly, you can put one together on your own. None of them include items that you can't find on your own, although you run the risk of never assembling such a kit on your own if you are as lazy as I am. Also, the kits obviously don't contain water, so you have to get that ready on your own.</p>
<p>Here's what our federal government has to say about surviving disasters:</p>
<blockquote><p>When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The following list of items is from the <a href="http://www.ready.gov/">Ready.gov</a> website &mdash; I've shortened some of the descriptions in the interest of space.</p>
<ul>
<li>Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation</li>
<li>Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food (Andrea's note: Power Bars/Cliff Bars and a jar of peanut butter &mdash; you're golden)</li>
<li>Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both</li>
<li>Flashlight and extra batteries</li>
<li>First aid kit</li>
<li>Whistle to signal for help</li>
<li>Dust masks, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place</li>
<li>Baby wipes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation</li>
<li>Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities</li>
<li>Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)</li>
<li>Local maps</li>
<li>Prescription medications and glasses</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/pets.html">Pet food and extra water for your pet</a></li>
<li>Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification, and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container</li>
<li>Cash or traveler's checks and change</li>
<li>First aid book</li>
<li>Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person.</li>
<li>Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper (you can also buy water-sanitizing tablets).</li>
<li>Fire extinguisher</li>
<li>Matches, stored in a waterproof container</li>
<li>Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items</li>
<li>Paper towels</li>
<li>Paper and pencil</li>
<li>Infant formula and diapers</li>
<li>Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children</li>
</ul>
<p>I would also add:</p>
<ul>
<li>Superglue (good for everything &mdash; remember, it was developed to seal flesh wounds)</li>
<li>Ionic breeze or other odor-neutralizing device</li>
<li>Banner or flag to alert rescuers to your whereabouts</li>
<li>Ice chest or cooler for medications that require chilling</li>
<li>If you can, a bottle of prescription antibiotics</li>
<li>An extra bucket (for whatever)</li>
<li>Long-range walkie talkies in case family members have to separate, extra batteries</li>
</ul>
<p>Most of this stuff you can probably find around your house, except for a hand-crank radio. I didn't know that those existed.</p>
<p>A key to having a good survival kit is maintaining it &mdash; making sure that the spare batteries are changed out once a year, not taking the spare cash out and spending it, checking to see that the energy bars and peanut butter hasn't gone bad, etc.</p>
<p>Also, make sure to have a <a href="http://www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan/index.html">coherent plan</a>. Where should family members convene, if possible, during an emergency? You can get a a href=&quot;http://www.areyouprepared.com/emergency_guidebook.html#&quot;&gt;free disaster preparedness guidebook.</p>
<p>As with all the sad things in life (disaster, death, taxes) it's better to plan ahead of time, and to spend a little extra on being prepared, than to pay the price for not thinking about the future.</p>
<h2>Location, Location...You Get the Idea</h2>
<p>One difficult aspect of putting together an emergency survival kit is figuring out where to store everything. If you have an actual house, you might have luck figuring out where to put jugs of water, but I live in a townhouse, and I don't have a lot of storage space. I finally settled in storing a bit of water on my bottom level and a bit more on my main level in a cabinet that I barely use. I might disperse some of the other kit components as well.</p>
<p>I'll post pictures, and prices, when I'm finished putting it all together. I've got a budget for it, too &mdash; I'm not going to spend over $50 for all of these items. I will either buy them second hand or pilfer what I have around the house. I'll let you know how it goes, but in the meantime, I urge all of you to consider getting something similar, if you don't already have one.</p>
<br /><div id="custom_wisebread_footer"><div id="rss_tagline">This article is from <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/andrea-karim">Andrea Karim</a> of <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/do-you-need-a-disaster-survival-kit">Wise Bread</a>, an award-winning personal finance and <a href="http://www.wisebread.com/credit-cards">credit card comparison</a> website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:</div><div class="view view-similarterms view-id-similarterms view-display-id-block_2 view-dom-id-1">
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</div> </div><br/></br>Life Hacksattackdirty bombdisasterearthquakeemergencyfloodhurricanemedical suppliesprepareready governmentterroristtoilet paperwaterTue, 20 Feb 2007 18:38:43 +0000Andrea Karim288 at http://www.wisebread.com